Criteria for Assessing MHPSS Proposals Submitted through the CAP, CERF and HRF Funding Mechanisms to the Protection Cluster

Introduction and Justification Provide the MHPSS service providers with a set of fundamental components that should be considered, throughout the development of their proposal. This will support the standardization of the psychosocial and mental health definition and service provision according to the global minimum standards. Provide instructions and clear criteria to any vetting panel responsible for assessing or/and evaluating MHPSS projects. (It is important to note that the Protection Cluster and other vetting mechanisms will establish criteria which must also be followed. Reference to the donor community to base their evaluation for the MHPSS’s submitted projects.

Trauma Strengthen Resilience A shift in emphasis from people’s vulnerabilities to a view of the beneficiaries as active agents in the face of adversity has been reflected in a shift from trauma based models of service delivery to those which recognize and strengthen resilience and local capacities. Therefore, newly developed mental health and psychosocial projects should take into consideration these changes and should be reflected into the type of suggested activities.

A resiliency-building approach to psychosocial wellbeing and child protection should focus on the following kinds of objectives Reducing risks to targeted beneficiaries’ safety and emotional well-being while promoting an environment conducive to positive development, effective coping, and resilience.   Promoting beneficiaries’ and children’s holistic development and age-appropriate physical, cognitive, and emotional competencies. Fostering a secure and stable environment for beneficiaries especially for children. Strengthening family and community care-giving structures for children.

A resiliency-building approach should focus on the following kinds of objectives Supporting communities’, children’s and youth’s voice and full participation in all phases of child protection programming.   Strengthening local networks including coordination and cooperation that enable child protection, care, and wellbeing. Start and end at the local level: Resilience building should reflect local knowledge and promote community participation, ownership and empowerment in the design and implementations of programs. A human rights based approach should drive the resilience building approach, ensuring that it is participatory, and non-discriminatory.

What do we mean by the term “psychosocial well-being When we think about mental health and psychosocial work we are focusing on activities to promote the well-being of affected populations. Such well-being can be thought of having three (3) core domains, all of which will affect a person’s ability to function

The individual capacity of a person The individual capacity of a person. Physical and mental health, coping abilities, position in society, and ability to access resources such as food and water, social services, education, and health provisions. For children, this would include their level of resilience and developmental stage. Family and community functioning. Effective functioning requires having networks of support from family and friends, and wider groups within the community. For children, this includes the existence of supportive caregivers, and other family members and caregivers. Societal Culture and Values. These are the beliefs, values, and practices that give a sense of meaning, unite communities, and contribute to a person’s identity e.g. religion, spirituality, and traditions. For children, this will be significantly influenced by the beliefs held by their family members and community, and the perceived relevance of these to their own life.

Emphasizes the reduction of physical risks (only) Traditional Emergency Response Resiliency and Well-being Response Emphasizes the reduction of physical risks (only) Addressing psychological disorders Meeting adults’ essential, immediate needs as the main strategy for assisting beneficiaries Programs emphasize technical interventions Holistic emphasis on reducing the wider array of risks-physical, emotional, social, cognitive Promotion of psychosocial well-being and positive child development Recognizes that children and other beneficiaries have special needs and rights that require specific attention and participation Programs emphasize resilience, capabilities, and coping mechanisms of children, families, and communities

Work is conducted by mental health experts or outside specialists Traditional Emergency Response Resiliency and Well-being Response Work is conducted by mental health experts or outside specialists Children and youth are principally regarded as recipients or beneficiaries of work efforts Focus on individuals Collective responsibility of humanitarian workers and local people who are specialized or not specialists but who have received psychosocial training. Children and youth have agency, need to have their voices heard, and can exercise leadership on child protection. Ecological emphasis on strengthening layered systems of child protection and well-being at family, peer, community, and societal levels

MHPSS Assessment Checklist Title of Action is relevant to the objectives and activities Relevant organizational experience and capacity Relevant local partner experience and capacity Clear situation analysis, the effect of the situation on the psychosocial- wellbeing for the different target groups including gender Reference to MHPSS assessments including assessments for the targeted locations and targeted group Prior coordination and cooperation with relevant Ministries Prior coordination and cooperation with other stakeholders

MHPSS Assessment Checklist Community, including children, participation and involvement prior to, and during the project development Clear objectives behind the project Human right and child right approach including a clear and tested methodology with SMART indicators and M&E tools and system Relevant terminologies used throughout the proposal Activities are developed according to the identified needs of the different target groups and gender Clear selection criteria for the most vulnerable locations and targeted groups Relevance of budget compared to the type of activities and number of beneficiaries